Oatmeal Apple Pie Cookies

Ingredients

• cup unsalted butter, softened
• cup white sugar
• cup packed brown sugar
• large eggs
• teaspoon vanilla extra ct
• cup sall-purpose flour
• teaspoon salt
• teaspoon baking soda
• teaspoon ground cinnamon
• teaspoon apple pie spice
• cup squick-cooking oats
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• large apples - peeled, cored, and diced
• tablespoon unsalted butter
• tablespoon white sugar
• teaspoon ground cinnamon
• large egg whites
• 1/4 cup caramel sundae syrup (such as Smucker's®)
• teaspoon ground cinnamon
• teaspoon cream of tartar
• cup spowdered sugar, or more to taste
• tablespoon milk, or more as needed

Instructions

1. Beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar for cookie dough in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Stir in eggs and vanilla.
2. Combine flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and apple pie spice in a separate bowl. Gradually mix into the wet ingredients until incorporated. Mix in oats and walnuts. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Set out two 24 cup mini muffin tins. Place paper towels under 2 wire racks.
4. Combine apples, butter, sugar, and cinnamon for filling in a microwave safe bowl; microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring halfway through to distribute the butter, until apples have softened. Transfer to a strainer to drain and cool.
5. Roll chilled dough into walnut sized balls. Fill each muffin cup with a ball and press down to flatten slightly.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove and cool for 2 minutes. Press a shot glass down in the middle of each cookie to form it into a cup shape. Transfer from the pan to the prepared wire racks to cool.
7. Put apple filling into the center of each cookie, making sure it's evenly distributed to fill all cookies.
8. Beat egg whites for icing in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until foamy. Mix in caramel syrup, cinnamon, and cream of tartar. Gradually mix in 2 cups powdered sugar and mix until it reaches a good drizzling consistency, similar to that of the caramel syrup. Add more powdered sugar if necessary; you don't want it to be so thin that it will run.
9. Drizzle icing over the cookies; it's okay if it melts into the apple filling.
10. Enjoy right away while they're super fresh, or wait until icing hardens, about 3 hours.

Tips

The cream of tartar in the icing is optional, but it makes the icing harden better.